Recent deposition by president of US bishops' conference is 'disturbing'

He repeatedly tried for ten years to get a convicted serial predator freed from prison

Group also wants steps taken to prevent newly convicted naked jogging priest from fleeing

WHAT

At a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will announce another child molestation lawsuit against the Denver archdiocese. They will also urge local Catholic officials to

-- disclose whether they have or are trying to get any convicted predators out of prison early, and

-- ask a recently convicted Colorado sex offender priest to voluntarily give the bishop his passport, so he won't have a chance to flee the country (as several pedophile priests have done recently).

The request comes on the heels of shocking court documents that surfaced last week in Chicago showing that the head of the US bishops' conference spent nearly a decade trying to get a convicted serial pedophile priest an early release from prison. It is timely because of the recent case of Fr. Whipkey, who was convicted of indecent exposure, may be jailed.

WHEN

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE

Outside the Colorado Catholic Conference Offices, 1535 Logan St, (on the side of the Cathedral, in downtown Denver

WHY

Several days ago, a Massachusetts priest became the latest accused predator to flee the country. Dozens of alleged pedophile priests have done likewise. To prevent this from happening here, SNAP wants Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput to ask Fr. Robert Whipkey (and any future priest against whom sexual allegations are made) to turn over his passport to the archbishop. Whipkey will be sentenced soon for his recent indecent exposure conviction.

(Over the years, at least four Denver Catholic priests have been convicted or pled guilty to child sex crimes, including Fr. Timothy J. Evans, convicted in 2007, Fr. Patrick O’Liddy, pled guilty in 1999, Fr. Mark Matson, convicted in 2000, and Whipkey. Fr. Bart Nadal was acquitted in 1990.)

Last week, church records and depositions were made public in Chicago. They showed that Cardinal Francis George, the President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, worked for nearly ten years to get a convicted serial predator priest freed early from jail. SNAP wants Chaput to disclose whether he has or is making similar efforts here, to stop them if he is, and to promise to not use his political clout to help proven pedophiles back on the streets.

In today’s lawsuit, a ’John Doe’ reports having been abused by Fr. Harold R. White at St. Catherine’s Parish in Denver in the early 1960s, where White was then a priest.

Last month, two other White victims filed civil lawsuit against the archdiocese. He’s accused of molesting more than 30 kids. White worked in parishes in Denver, Colorado Springs, Sterling, Loveland, Minturn, Aspen, Wheat Ridge, Grand Lake, in Steamboat Springs and Eagle.